The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-08
CURING TOBACCO.
VALUABLE HINTS TO NEW BE.
GINNERS.
Interesting Treaties on the Subject OF
Flue Curing Tobacco by a Practical
Experienced Farmer.
[R. b. Davis
CUTTING,

[R. b. Davis.
CUTTING,
Tobacco should never be cut while wet
| with dew or rain, Ssfiace the least water
upon the inside of the leaf blurs its color
in drying. Before it is cut is should have,
| if possible, full time to ripen thoroughly
and yellow on the hill, remembering that
there is little danger with Us of killing
| frost earlier than the 18th day of October
| When cut it should be assorted in the field !;
that is to say, only such plants as are
equally ripe and of uniform color should
be cut and cured together. As fast as cut
| it should he hung upon a stick, which is
held by lad who serves two cutters, each
| taking two rows. The stick should he four
| feet. two inches long and little less than
one inch square, and should be rivcn of the
| best timber, so as to be clear of knots and
splinters. From six to eight plants should
| be hung upon stick. after it is filled
should be laid directly upon wagon, if
convenient and if not it should be careful
| ly laid upon the ground with stalks toward
| the sun, in which case, as fast as load of
| it is cut, it should be hurried to the barn,
| for the reason that 1t ScaldS or SunburnS
very quickly when exposed to the hot sun.
Moreover, it is desira Bile to get it in the barn
before it has wilted and is as stiff as posi-
bic, in order that its leaves may each hang
separate and open, so as to admit the heat
ed air freely among them when curing It,
1t should be hauled in coOps of some twen-
ty sticks laid upon frames provided for the
purpose, which frames should be nine feet
long for onehorse, and thi.t Ell feet long
for twO-hOrsc wagon. 1t should be uil-
loaded at the northern door of the barn.
Monday and Tuesday or Friday and Sat
urday are the proper days of the week for
cutting tobacco, in order that the curing
may not conflict with Sunday-in the latter
case the curing may be postponed until
Monday morning without much harm.
CURING.
1t is we'll for the inexperienced planter
in curing his first barn to have, if it can be
had, the assistance of practiced curer.
But would have him believe that the art
OF drying tobacco yellow is both simple
and rational one, most nearly resembling
that of drying fancy fruits, and with no
sort of cOnjuratlOn Or even much difficulty
about it. For if it were naturally difficult
it would be practically impossible to dry,
as is SO often and easily done, an entire
harmful of it yellow, consisting OF some
1, 900 plants, and out of which several hum
dred gallons Of water are to be expelled.
The one great secret in curing tobacco yell
low is to grow it properly, that is to say,
so manure, plant and cultivate the crop as
with favoring seasons, to have it thorough
~ ripe and common SenSe is required, to-
gether with the confidence which very
little practice gives.
There are two. although perfectly dis
tinct, stages in the process Of curing, of
which the one is 1ellowing and the other
Drying. For the first, heat is only neces-
sary, the change of color from green to
yellow being due to fermentation of the
sap, which begins la urally as soon as the
plant is cut, and is merely fastened by an
increase of heat. For the second stage,
heat and fresh air, or what is called a dry
heat, is required. And yet even in the
first stage also, a slightly drying heat is
used, the object being to expefa portion of
the sap while the yellowing is going on.
The drying, therefore, should accompany,
or rather follow very closely, but never
precede the yellOwing.
1t is very Important that the process of
yellowing should not be delayed, but COM
mence if possible as soon as the barn is
filed for otherwise the fermentation may
proceed So far without drying as to injure
or destroy the delicate membrane called
the grain, which enclOses the sap, thus
>ponging or shutting the face of the leaf.
AS soon therefore, as the barn is filled,
hang thermometer in its centre, with
bulb on line with tails of tobacco OH low
most tiers, and heat the barn slowly to a
temperature of 800, and keep it SO until
the bottom or lug leaves of the plants in
reach are quite yellow, and their top leaves
clear ea-green, keeping the doors shut,
except when going in and out, in order to
maintain a damp heat. This will require
from eighteen to thirty-six hours, according
as the tobacco was more or less yellow
side is cool and drying, the barn should
be heated to 800 instead of 900, and kept so
until the desired color is secured.
The tobacco is now ready for drying,
which should proceed cautiously but steadi
ly, and as rapidly as it will bear without
done by advancing the heat to 900 and
keeping it there two hours until 1900 are
reached, at which it should be kept six
hours. At the end of this time the leaf
Except the stem) of the tobacco will be
dry upon the lowmOst tiers, and partially
dry throughout the barn. If the curer can
reach 1900 without Scalding the tobacco in
sight, the cure is a success, and the entire
barn out of danger. The heat should now
be advanced 100 every two hours, until
1900 are reached, at which it should be
kept with windows and doors shut until
the stalk and stem of the tobacco next to
the walls of the barn are quite dry, re-
quiring usually about twenty-four hours
But before reaching 16Oo and after passing
1000, the windows should he kept open all
the time (uSing a ladder Outside), and the
doors one.half the time, in order that the
vapor may freely escape from above, and
an abundance of fresh air enter from below,
the object being to maintain a dry heat,
so as to prevent the tobacco from sweating,
which is the settling of the vapor upon the
leaf, as shown by its becoming moist and
Timber. At every stage of this process of
the drying the curer should be wakeful
and watchful, but especially so when the
heat is at hoo, since the tobacco is then in
condition to be most easily scaided by an
excess of heat Perhaps it would be best to
reca pitulate what has been said i'm the form
Of a table, thus /:
YELLOwING.
At 900 If weather be mild. or 800 II it be
cool for IL to Sc hours, or until the desired
color is attained.
DRYING.
At $50 for hours. At 1890 sor hours
At 1000 for At 1900 for
At 1850 for At 1900 for 2
At 100 for At 1900 for 81
At 1850 fora or until stalk and stem
At 1900 for q of tobacco are dry.
But it is only safe to follow the above
table strictly when the tobacco is quite
manageable-that Is to say, when 1t is
not gross in form and is very
yellow when cut. For when it Is other
RI IA hap ao1iE EaA